Transforming Lives Through Research

Oliver Wallace

Oliver Wallace is the little boy featured in the pictures here. He is now 9 years old and his father Steve has very kindly offered to share their story in the hope of helping others and to show that there may be light at the end of the tunnel for anyone who is diagnosed with epilepsy.
Oliver’s condition was first noticed when he was at nursery, where they thought that his behaviour was attention seeking. However, over time, Steve and the family realised that something just wasn’t quite right, so they took him to the local family doctor. The doctor too realised that Oliver needed further expert evaluation so he was referred to a neurologist for a proper diagnosis.
As a result Oliver was prescribed antiepileptic medication and over the next four years or so, he had numerous investigations: blood tests, MRI scans and EEGs. Specialists analysed all the data from these investigations and took into consideration the fact that the medication wasn’t working, concluding that the only option available was for surgery to treat Oliver’s condition.
In mid-June of last year, 2018, the surgeons operated on Oliver and removed his hippocampus, which Steve tells us is roughly the size of a little finger and is located deep within the structure of the brain.
Immediately following the operation Oliver experienced a lot of pain in his jaw and was suffering from a lot of headaches, but slowly things started to improve. And now, following this major open brain surgery, Oliver thankfully is recovering well and has been free of any seizures since the date of the operation.
Steve is keen to impress upon us all that all Oliver’s friends at school have been amazing, as have his teachers and his family.

And with regard to the people who performed the surgery, Steve has this to say “The surgeons have done an amazing job at Kings Hospital and Oliver has no side effects.”

And only a couple of weeks ago Oliver found fame in Los Angeles featuring in a special epilepsy display at an art show which aims to help raise awareness of epilepsy. We all hope that Oliver continues to make positive progress.

Epilepsy Research UK supports and promotes basic and clinical scientific research into the causes, treatments and prevention of epilepsy; and is the only national charity in the UK that funds independent research exclusively into this condition.

Epilepsy Research UK is a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities